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SHOCKER: Browns Give Up On Trent Richardson, Trade RB To Colts

Running back Trent Richardson leaps over a defender during the first half of a preseason game at FirstEnergy Stadium on Aug. 15, 2013 in Cleveland, Ohio. He was traded to the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 18, 2013. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

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BEREA, Ohio (CBSNewYork/AP) — The Cleveland Browns traded running back Trent Richardson to the Indianapolis Colts on Wednesday, a stunning move just two games into this season and only one year after drafting him in the first round.

Richardson was dealt for a first-round selection in next year’s draft, when the Browns will have two opening-round picks. Cleveland is rebuilding and the team hopes to use that pick to help turn around a floundering franchise mired in losing for more than a decade.

Such a turnaround was what the Browns had in mind when they took Richardson with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2011 draft.

But Richardson apparently didn’t fit into the plans of Cleveland’s front office or new coach Rob Chudzinski’s offensive system. Richardson, who rushed for 950 yards as a rookie despite playing most of last season with broken ribs, had gained just 105 yards on 31 carries this season and didn’t have the breakaway speed the Browns’ new regime was looking for.

The shocking trade came on the same day Chudzinski announced that third-string quarterback Brian Hoyer will start Sunday against Minnesota. Hoyer got the nod over backup Jason Campbell to fill in for starter Brandon Weeden, who is sidelined with a sprained right thumb.

In addition, the Browns are bringing in free agent running back Willis McGahee for a physical and will sign him if he passes. A two-time Pro Bowl pick, McGahee was most recently with Denver.

McGahee made the Pro Bowl in both 2007 and 2011, and has four 1,000-yard rushing seasons.

Earlier in the day, Richardson talked to Minnesota reporters on a conference all about the pressure of living up to being such a high draft pick.

“I think people make it more pressure than what it is,” he said. “I just like to play football. At the end of the day, I’m going to play football like I’ve always been coached. The way I’ve always played. I’m going to be physical, fast, I’m going to be up-tempo, I’m going to be the one who’s trying to lead by example. No matter what, that’s a big reason why I fought through injury last year with broken ribs and two knee surgeries, because I know that being a first-round pick what the expectations are of you, and me being the man that I am, the athlete I am, I’m not going to sit down unless my legs are broke.

“So if I can still run and I can still catch the ball, I’m playing.”

Browns CEO Joe Banner said the decision to deal Richardson is in keeping with a plan to overhaul the team.

“Trent’s a great player and we expect him to have success in this league,” Banner said. “Right now, based on how we’re building this team for sustainable success, we’re going to be aggressive and do what it takes to assemble a team that consistently wins.”